Octafluorobutane compositions

ABSTRACT

The invention includes compositions of 1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and bis(fluoromethyl) ether, 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane, 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1-difluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 2,2,3,3,4,5,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran or 2,2,3,3,4,4,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran; 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and bis(fluoromethyl) ether, 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane, 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1-difluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 2,2,3,3,4,5,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran, or 2,2,3,3,4,4,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran; 1,1,1,2,2,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and bis(fluoromethyl) ether, 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane or 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane; or 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutane and methyl tert-butyl ether, bis(fluoromethyl) ether or 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-(1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)propane. These compositions, which may be azeotropic or azeotrope-like, may be used as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents or displacement drying agents.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/315,020, filed Sep. 29, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,854.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to compositions that include octafluorobutane. These compositions are useful as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, and displacement drying agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluorinated hydrocarbons have many uses, one of which is as a refrigerant. Such refrigerants include trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12) and chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22).

In recent years it has been pointed out that certain kinds of fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerants released into the atmosphere may adversely affect the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this proposition has not yet been completely established, there is a movement toward the control of the use and the production of certain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under an international agreement.

Accordingly, there is a demand for the development of refrigerants that have a lower ozone depletion potential than existing refrigerants while still achieving an acceptable performance in refrigeration applications. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been suggested as replacements for CFCs and HCFCs since HFCs have no chlorine and therefore have zero ozone depletion potential.

In refrigeration applications, a refrigerant is often lost during operation through leaks in shaft seals, hose connections, soldered joints and broken lines. In addition, the refrigerant may be released to the atmosphere during maintenance procedures on refrigeration equipment. If the refrigerant is not a pure component or an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition, the refrigerant composition may change when leaked or discharged to the atmosphere from the refrigeration equipment, which may cause the refrigerant to become flammable or to have poor refrigeration performance.

Accordingly, it is desirable to use as a refrigerant a single fluorinated hydrocarbon or an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition that includes one or more fluorinated hydrocarbons.

Fluorinated hydrocarbons may also be used as a cleaning agent or solvent to clean, for example, electronic circuit boards. It is desirable that the cleaning agents be azeotropic or azeotrope-like because in vapor degreasing operations the cleaning agent is generally redistilled and reused for final rinse cleaning.

Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions that include a fluorinated hydrocarbon are also useful as blowing agents in the manufacture of closed-cell polyurethane, phenolic and thermoplastic foams, as propellants in aerosols, as heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids such as for heat pumps, inert media for polymerization reactions, fluids for removing particulates from metal surfaces, as carrier fluids that may be used, for example, to place a fine film of lubricant on metal parts, as buffing abrasive agents to remove buffing abrasive compounds from polished surfaces such as metal, as displacement drying agents for removing water, such as from jewelry or metal parts, as resist developers in conventional circuit manufacturing techniques including chlorine-type developing agents, or as strippers for photoresists when used with, for example, a chlorohydrocarbon such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane or trichloroethylene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of compositions of octafluorobutane and an ether. These compositions are also useful as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, and displacement drying agents. Further, the invention relates to the discovery of binary azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising effective amounts of octafluorobutane and an ether to form an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and 152E at 25° C.;

FIG. 2 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and c234fEαβ at 25° C.;

FIG. 3 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and c234fEβγ at 25° C.;

FIG. 4 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and 236caE at 25° C.;

FIG. 5 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and 236eaEβγ at 25° C.;

FIG. 6 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and c327eEαβ at 25° C.;

FIG. 7 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338q and c327eEcαδ at 25° C.;

FIG. 8 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and 152E at 25° C.;

FIG. 9 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and c234fEαβ at 25° C.;

FIG. 10 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and c234fEβγ at 25° C.;

FIG. 11 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and 236caE at 25° C.;

FIG. 12 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and 236eaEβγ at 25° C.;

FIG. 13 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and c327eEαβ at 25° C.;

FIG. 14 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mee and c327eEαδ at 25° C.;

FIG. 15 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mf and 152E at 25° C.;

FIG. 16 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mf and c234fEαβ at 25° C.;

FIG. 17 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338mf and c234fEβγ at 25° C.;

FIG. 18 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338pcc and MTBE at 25° C.;

FIG. 19 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338pcc and 152E at 25° C.; and

FIG. 20 is a graph of the vapor/liquid equilibrium curve for mixtures of HFC-338pcc and 42-11meEγδ at 25° C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to compositions of octafluorobutane and an ether. Isomers of octafluorobutane include 1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338q), 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338mee), 1,1,1,2,2,4,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338mf) and 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338pcc). Examples of these compositions include:

(a) HFC-338q and bis(fluoromethyl) ether (152E); 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEαβ); 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEβγ); 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (236caE); 1-difluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (236eaEβγ); 2,2,3,3,4,5,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran (c327eEαβ); 2,2,3,3,4,4,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran (c327eEαδ); or

(b) HFC-338mee and bis(fluoromethyl) ether (152E); 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEαβ); 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEβγ); 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (236caE); 1-difluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (236eaEβγ); 2,2,3,3,4,5,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran (c327eEαβ) or 2,2,3,3,4,4,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran (c327eEαδ); or

(c) HFC-338mf and bis(fluoromethyl) ether (152E); 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEαβ) or 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane (c234fEβγ); or

(d) HFC-338pcc and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); bis(fluoromethyl) ether (152E) or 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-(1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)propane (42-11meEγδ).

1-99 wt. % of each of the components of the compositions can be used as refrigerants. Further, the present invention also relates to the discovery of azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions of effective amounts of each of the above mixtures to form an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition.

By "azeotropic" composition is meant a constant boiling liquid admixture of two or more substances that behaves as a single substance. One way to characterize an azeotropic composition is that the vapor produced by partial evaporation or distillation of the liquid has the same composition as the liquid from which it was evaporated or distilled, that is, the admixture distills/refluxes without compositional change. Constant boiling compositions are characterized as azeotropic because they exhibit either a maximum or minimum boiling point, as compared with that of the non-azeotropic mixtures of the same components.

By "azeotrope-like" composition is meant a constant boiling, or substantially constant boiling, liquid admixture of two or more substances that behaves as a single substance. One way to characterized an azeotrope-like composition is that the vapor produced by partial evaporation or distillation of the liquid has substantially the same composition as the liquid from which it was evaporated or distilled, that is, the admixture distills/refluxes without substantial composition change. Another way to characterize an azeotrope-like composition is that the bubble point vapor pressure and the dew point vapor pressure of the composition at a particular temperature are substantially the same.

It is recognized in the art that a composition is azeotrope-like if, after 50 weight percent of the composition is removed such as by evaporation or boiling off, the difference in vapor pressure between the original composition and the composition remaining after 50 weight percent of the original composition has been removed is less than 10 percent, when measured in absolute units. By absolute units, it is meant measurements of pressure and, for example, psia, atmospheres, bars, torr, dynes per square centimeter, millimeters of mercury, inches of water and other equivalent terms well known in the art. If an azeotrope is present, there is no difference in vapor pressure between the original composition and the composition remaining after 50 weight percent of the original composition has been removed.

Therefore, included in this invention are compositions of effective amounts of:

(a) HFC-338q and 152E; c234fEαβ; c234fEβγ; 236caE; 236eaEβγ; c327eEαβ or c327eEαδ;

(b) HFC-338mee and 152E; c234fEαβ; c234fEβγ; 236caE; 236eaEβγ; c327eEαβ or c327eEαδ;

(c) HFC-338mf and 152E; c234fEαβ or c234fEβγ; and

(d) HFC-338pcc and MTBE; 152E or 42-11meEγδ;

such that after 50 weight percent of an original composition is evaporated or boiled off to produce a remaining composition, the difference in the vapor pressure between the original composition and the remaining composition is 10 percent or less.

For compositions that are azeotropic, there is usually some range of compositions around the azeotrope point that, for a maximum boiling azeotrope, have boiling points at a particular pressure higher than the pure components of the composition at that pressure and have vapor pressures at a particular temperature lower than the pure components of the composition at that temperature, and that, for a minimum boiling azeotrope, have boiling points at a particular pressure lower than the pure components of the composition at that pressure and have vapor pressures at a particular temperature higher than the pure components of the composition at that temperature. Boiling temperatures and vapor pressures above or below that of the pure components are caused by unexpected intermolecular forces between and among the molecules of the compositions, which can be a combination of repulsive and attractive forces such as van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding.

The range of compositions that have a maximum or minimum boiling point at a particular pressure, or a maximum or minimum vapor pressure at a particular temperature, may or may not be coextensive with the range of compositions that have a change in vapor pressure of less than about 10% when 50 weight percent of the composition is evaporated. In those cases where the range of compositions that have maximum or minimum boiling temperatures at a particular pressure, or maximum or minimum vapor pressures at a particular temperature, are broader than the range of compositions that have a change in vapor pressure of less than about 10% when 50 weight percent of the composition is evaporated, the unexpected intermolecular forces are nonetheless believed important in that the refrigerant compositions having those forces that are not substantially constant boiling may exhibit unexpected increases in the capacity or efficiency versus the components of the refrigerant composition.

1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane, CH₂ FCF₂ CF₂ CF₃, or HFC-338q, boiling point=25° C., may be made by the reaction of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluorobutanol with phosgene and hydrogen fluoride as disclosed by Nappa, et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,189.

1,1,1,2,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane, CF₃ CHFCHFCF₃, or HFC-338mee, boiling point=25° C., may be made by the hydrogenation of perfluoro-2-butene over a palladium on alumina catalyst as reported by Hudlicky, et al. in Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, Vol. 59, pp. 9-14 (1992).

1,1,1,2,2,4,4,4-octafluorobutane (HFC-338mf, CF₃ CH₂ CF₂ CF₃, CAS Reg. No. [2924-29-0]) has been prepared by photolyzing a mixture of 1,2-difluoroethylene and pentafluoroethyl iodide to give CF₃ CF₂ CH₂ CF₂ I followed by fluorination of the fluoroiodobutane with mercurous fluoride to give CF₃ CF₂ CH₂ CF₃ as reported by Haszeldine, et. al. in Journal of the Chemical Society, pp. 3005-3009 (1955).

1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-octafluorobutane, CF₂ HCF₂ CF₂ CF₂ H, HFC-338pcc, boiling point=44° C., may be made by refluxing the potassium salt of perfluoroadipic acid in ethylene glycol as reported by Hudlicky, et. al. in J. Fluorine Chemistry, Vol. 59, pp. 9-14 (1992).

The fluoroethers that are included in this invention have two to five carbon atoms. Examples of such fluoroethers include the following.

1. Bis(fluoromethyl) ether, 152E, or CH₂ FOCH₂ F, having a boiling point of 33° C.,

2. 2,2,4,4-tetrafluorooxetane, C-234fEαβ, or C₃ H₂ F₄ O, having a structure of ##STR1## boiling point=21.2° C., 3. 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorooxetane, C-234fEβγ, or C₃ H₂ F₄ O, having a structure of ##STR2## boiling point=28° C., 4. 1-difluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 236caE, or CHF₂ OCF₂ CHF₂, boiling point=28.5° C.,

5. 1-difluoromethoxy-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 236eaEβγ, or CHF₂ OCHFCF₃, boiling point=23.2° C.,

6. 2,2,3,3,4,5,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran, cyclic --OCF₂ CF₂ CHFCF₂ -c327eEαβ, boiling point=23° C.,

7. 2,2,3,3,4,4,5-heptafluorotetrahydrofuran, cyclic --OCF₂ CF₂ CF₂ CHF--, or c327eEαδ, boiling point=23° C.,

8. methyl tert-butyl ether, (CH₃)₃ C(OCH₃), or MTBE, boiling point=55.2° C.

9. 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-(1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)propane, E42-11meEγδ, or CF₃ CF₂ CF₂ OCHFCF₃, boiling point=40.8° C.

152E, CAS Reg. No. [462-51-1], has been prepared by reacting poly(oxymethylene) with sulfur tetrafluoride as reported by Hasek, et. al. in J. Am. Chem. Soc. Vol. 82, pages 543-551 (1960).

C-234fEαβ may be prepared by direct fluorination of trimethylene oxide (cyclo-CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ O--) using techniques described by Lagow and Margrave in Progress in Inorganic Chemistry., Vol. 26, pp. 161-210 (1979) or by Adcock and Cherry in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 26, pp. 208-215 (1987). The direct fluorination is carried out to the desired level of fluorine incorporation into the starting material, and products recovered by fractional distillation.

C-234fEβγ (GAS Reg. No. 765-63-9) has been prepared by Weinmayr (J. Org. Chem., Vol. 28, pp. 492-494 (1963)) as a by-product from the reaction of TFE with formaldehyde in HF.

236caE (CAS Reg. No. 32778-11-3) has been prepared by fluorination of CHCl₂ OCF₂ CHF₂ (prepared in turn by chlorination of CH₃ OCF₂ CHF₂) using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride with antimony pentachloride catalyst as reported by Terrell, et. al. in J. Medicinal Chem., Vol. 15, pp. 604-606 (1972).

236eaEβγ (CAS Reg. No. 57041-67-5) has been prepared by chlorination of methoxy acetyl chloride to give the intermediate, CHCl₂ OCHClCOCl, which was isolated and reacted with sulfur tetrafluoride at 150° C. to give the product as disclosed by Halpern and Robin in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,139.

c327eEαβ (CAS Reg. No. [24270-62-0]) has been prepared by the reaction of tetrahydrofuran with cobalt trifluoride as reported by Burdon, et. al. in Journal of the Chemical Society, Sect. C, pp. 1739-1746 (1969).

c327eEαδ (CAS Reg. No. [24270-61-9]) has been prepared by the reaction of tetrahydrofuran with cobalt trifluoride as reported by Burdon, et. al. in Journal of the Chemical Society, Sect. C, pp. 1739-1746 (1969).

E42-11meEγδ (CAS Reg. No. 3330-15-2) has been prepared by heating CF₃ CF₂ CF₂ OCF(CF₃)CO₂ --Na+ in ethylene glycol as disclosed by Selman and Smith in French Patent No. 1,373,014 (Chemical Abstracts 62: 13047g).

The components of the compositions of this invention have the following vapor pressures at 25° C.

    ______________________________________                                         COMPONENTS        PSIA   KPA                                                   ______________________________________                                         HFC-338q          14.7   101                                                   HFC-338mee        14.7   101                                                   HFC-338mf         18.8   130                                                   HFC-338pcc         6.9    48                                                   152E              11.0    76                                                   c234fEαβ                                                                              16.7   115                                                   c234fEβγ                                                                              13.3    92                                                   4211meEγδ                                                                             8.1    56                                                   236caE            12.9    89                                                   236eaEβγ                                                                              15.7   108                                                   c327eEαβ                                                                              15.8   109                                                   c327eEαδ                                                                             15.8   109                                                   MTBE               4.6    32                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Substantially constant boiling, azeotropid or azeotrope-like compositions of this invention comprise the following (all compositions are measured at 25° C.):

    ______________________________________                                                        WEIGHT RANGES  PREFERRED                                        COMPONENTS     (wt. %/wt/%)   (wt. %/wt. %)                                    ______________________________________                                         HFC-338q/152E  47-99/1-53     40-99/1-60                                       HFC-338q/c234fEαβ                                                                  1-99/1-99      20-80/20-80                                      HFC-338q/c234fEβγ                                                                  22-99/1-78     30-80/20-70                                      HFC-338q/236caE                                                                               1-99/1-99      40-99/1-60                                       HFC-338q/236eaEβγ                                                                  1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338q/c327eEαβ                                                                  1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338q/c327eEαδ                                                                 1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338mee/152E                                                                               47-99/1-53     50-99/1-50                                       HFC-338mee/c234fEαβ                                                                1-99/1-99      20-80/20-80                                      HFC-338mee/c234fEβγ                                                                23-99/1-77     30-80/20-70                                      HFC-338mee/236caE                                                                             1-99/1-99      40-99/1-60                                       HFC-338mee/236eaEβγ                                                                1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338mee/c327eEαβ                                                                1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338mee/c327eEαδ                                                               1-99/1-99       1-70/30-99                                      HFC-338mf/152E 52-99/1-48     60-99/1-40                                       HFC-338mf/c234fEαβ                                                                 22-99/1-78     22-80/20-78                                      HFC-338mf/c234fEβγ                                                                 35-99/1-65     35-99/1-65                                       HFC-338pcc/MTBE                                                                               62-94/6-38     62-94/6-38                                       HFC-338pcc/152E                                                                                1-79/21-99    30-79/21-70                                      HFC-338pcc/4211meEγδ                                                              1-99/1-99      20-99/1-80                                       ______________________________________                                    

For purposes of this invention, "effective amount" is defined as the mount of each component of the inventive compositions which, when combined, results in the formation of an azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition. This definition includes the amounts of each component, which amounts may vary depending on the pressure applied to the composition so long as the azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions continue to exist at the different pressures, but with possible different boiling points.

Therefore, effective amount includes the amounts, such as may be expressed in weight percentages, of each component of the compositions of the instant invention which form azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions at temperatures or pressures other than as described herein.

For the purposes of this discussion, azeotropic or constant-boiling is intended to mean also essentially azeotropic or essentially-constant boiling. In other words, included within the meaning of these terms are not only the true azeotropes described above, but also other compositions containing the same components in different proportions, which are true azeotropes at other temperatures and pressures, as well as those equivalent compositions which are part of the same azeotropic system and are azeotrope-like in their properties. As is well recognized in this art, there is a range of compositions which contain the same components as the azeotrope, which will not only exhibit essentially equivalent properties for refrigeration and other applications, but which will also exhibit essentially equivalent properties to the true azeotropic composition in terms of constant boiling characteristics or tendency not to segregate or fractionate on boiling.

It is possible to characterize, in effect, a constant boiling admixture which may appear under many guises, depending upon the conditions chosen, by any of several criteria:

The composition can be defined as an azeotrope of A, B, C (and D . . . ) since the very term "azeotrope" is at once both definitive and limitative, and requires that effective amounts of A, B, C (and D . . . ) for this unique composition of matter which is a constant boiling composition.

It is well known by those skilled in the art, that, at different pressures, the composition of a given azeotrope will vary at least to some degree, and changes in pressure will also change, at least to some degree, the boiling point temperature. Thus, an azeotrope of A, B, C (and D . . . ) represents a unique type of relationship but with a variable composition which depends on temperature and/or pressure. Therefore, compositional ranges, rather than fixed compositions, are often used to define azeotropes.

The composition can be defined as a particular weight percent relationship or mole percent relationship of A, B, C (and D . . . ), while recognizing that such specific values point out only one particular relationship and that in actuality, a series of such relationships, represented by A, B, C (and D . . . ) actually exist for a given azeotrope, varied by the influence of pressure.

An azeotrope of A, B, C (and D . . . ) can be characterized by defining the compositions as an azeotrope characterized by a boiling point at a given pressure, thus giving identifying characteristics without unduly limiting the scope of the invention by a specific numerical composition, which is limited by and is only as accurate as the analytical equipment available.

The azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions of the present invention can be prepared by any convenient method including mixing or combining the desired amounts. A preferred method is to weigh the desired component mounts and thereafter combine them in an appropriate container.

Specific examples illustrating the invention are given below. Unless otherwise stated therein, all percentages are by weight. It is to be understood that these examples are merely illustrative and in no way are to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Phase Study

A phase study shows the following compositions are azeotropic. The temperature is 25° C.

    ______________________________________                                                                Vapor Press.                                            Composition    Weight Percents                                                                              psia   kPa                                        ______________________________________                                         HFC-338q/152E  73.8/26.2     19.8   137                                        HFC-338q/c234fEαβ                                                                  47.3/52.7     19.9   137                                        HFC-338q/c234fEβγ                                                                  59.7/40.3     18.1   125                                        HFC-338q/236caE                                                                               82.9/17.1     14.8   102                                        HFC-338q/236eaEβγ                                                                  30.6/69.4     15.9   110                                        HFC-338q/c327eEαβ                                                                   7.3/92.7     15.8   109                                        HFC-338q/c327eEαδ                                                                  7.3/92.7     15.8   109                                        HFC-338mee/152E                                                                               73.6/26.4     20.0   138                                        HFC-338mee/c234fEαβ                                                                47.3/52.7     20.1   139                                        HFC-338mee/c234fEβγ                                                                59.2/40.8     18.3   126                                        HFC-338mee/236caE                                                                             80.1/19.9     14.8   102                                        HFC-338mee/236eaEβγ                                                                32.8/67.2     16.0   110                                        HFC-338mee/c327eEαβ                                                                12.2/87.8     15.8   109                                        HFC-338mee/c327eEαδ                                                               12.2/87.8     15.8   109                                        HFC-338mf/152E 79.5/20.5     23.6   163                                        HFC-338mf/c234fEαβ                                                                 60.2/39.8     23.1   159                                        HFC-338mf/c234fEβγ                                                                 70.1/29.9     21.6   149                                        HFC-338pcc/MTBE                                                                               84.4/15.6      8.9    61                                        HFC-338pcc/152E                                                                               43.1/56.9     12.2    84                                        HFC-338pcc/4211meEγδ                                                              32.0/68.0      8.8    60                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2 Impact of Vapor Leakage on Vapor Pressure at 25° C.

A vessel is charged with an initial liquid composition at 25° C. The liquid, and the vapor above the liquid, are allowed to come to equilibrium, and the vapor pressure in the vessel is measured. Vapor is allowed to leak from the vessel, while the temperature is held constant at 25° C., until 50 weight percent of the initial charge is removed, at which time the vapor pressure of the composition remaining in the vessel is measured. The results are summarized below.

    ______________________________________                                                      0 wt %         50 wt %                                            Refrigerant  evaporated     evaporated                                                                             0% change in                               Composition  psia   kPa     psia kPa  vapor pressure                           ______________________________________                                         HFC-338q/152E                                                                  73.8/26.2    19.8   137     19.8 137  0.0                                      85/15        19.5   134     19.0 131  2.6                                      99/1         15.5   107     14.9 103  3.9                                      50/50        19.4   134     18.4 127  5.2                                      47/53        19.4   134     17.6 121  9.3                                      46/54        19.3   133     17.2 119  10.9                                     HFC-338q/c234fEαβ                                                   47.3/52.7    19.9   137     19.9 137  0.0                                      20/80        19.2   132     18.5 128  3.6                                      1/99         17.0   117     16.8 116  1.2                                      80/20        18.5   128     17.7 122  4.3                                      99/1         15.0   103     14.8 102  1.3                                      HFC-338q/c234fEβγ                                                   59.7/40.3    18.1   125     18.1 125  0.0                                      80/20        17.5   121     17.2 119  1.7                                      99/1         14.9   103     14.8 102  0.7                                      40/60        17.8   123     17.4 120  2.2                                      22/78        16.9   117     15.3 105  9.5                                      21/79        16.8   116     15.1 104  10.1                                     HFC-338q/236caE                                                                82.9/17.1    14.8   102     14.8 102  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      60/40        14.6   101     14.6 101  0.0                                      40/60        14.3    99     14.2  98  0.7                                      20/80        13.7    94     13.6  94  0.7                                      1/99         13.0    90     13.0  90  0.0                                      HFC-338q/236eaEβγ                                                   30.6/69.4    15.9   110     15.9 110  0.0                                      15/85        15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      1/99         15.7   108     15.7 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.7   108     15.7 108  0.0                                      80/20        15.3   105     15.3 105  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338q/c327eEαβ                                                   7.3/92.7     15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      1/99         15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      40/60        15.6   108     15.6 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.4   106     15.4 106  0.0                                      80/20        15.1   104     15.1 104  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338q/c327eEαδ                                                  7.3/92.7     15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      1/99         15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      40/60        15.6   108     15.6 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.4   106     15.4 106  0.0                                      80/20        15.1   104     15.1 104  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338mee/152E                                                                73.6/26.4    20.0   138     20.0 138  0.0                                      85/15        19.7   136     19.1 132  3.0                                      99/1         15.6   108     14.9 103  4.5                                      50/50        19.6   135     18.7 129  4.6                                      47/53        19.6   135     17.9 123  8.7                                      46/54        19.5   134     17.5 121  10.3                                     HFC-338mee/c234fEαβ                                                 47.3/52.7    20.1   139     20.1 139  0.0                                      20/80        19.4   134     18.6 128  4.1                                      1/99         17.0   117     16.8 116  1.2                                      60/40        19.9   137     19.8 137  0.5                                      80/20        18.7   129     17.7 122  5.3                                      90/10        17.2   119     16.1 111  6.4                                      99/1         15.0   103     14.8 102  1.3                                      HFC-338mee/c234fEβγ                                                 59.2/40.8    18.3   126     18.3 126  0.0                                      80/20        17.7   122     17.3 119  2.3                                      99/1         15.0   103     14.8 102  1.3                                      40/60        18.0   124     17.6 121  2.2                                      23/77        17.1   118     15.5 107  9.4                                      22/78        17.1   118     15.3 105  10.5                                     HFC-338mee/236caE                                                              80.1/19.9    14.8   102     14.8 102  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      60/40        14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      40/60        14.4    99     14.3  99  0.7                                      20/80        13.8    95     13.7  94  0.7                                      1/99         13.0    90     13.0  90  0.0                                      HFC-338mee/236eaEβγ                                                 32.8/67.2    16.0   110     16.0 110  0.0                                      15/85        15.9   110     15.9 110  0.0                                      1/99         15.7   108     15.7 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      80/20        15.4   106     15.3 105  0.6                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338mee/c327eEαβ                                                 12.2/87.8    15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      1/99         15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      40/60        15.7   108     15.7 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.4   106     15.4 106  0.0                                      80/20        15.1   104     15.1 104  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338mee/c327eEαδ                                                12.2/87.8    15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      1/99         15.8   109     15.8 109  0.0                                      40/60        15.7   108     15.7 108  0.0                                      60/40        15.4   106     15.4 106  0.0                                      80/20        15.1   104     15.1 104  0.0                                      99/1         14.7   101     14.7 101  0.0                                      HFC-338mf/152E                                                                 79.5/20.5    23.6   163     23.6 163  0.0                                      85/15        23.6   163     23.4 161  0.8                                      99/1         19.8   137     19.1 132  3.5                                      60/40        23.3   161     22.7 157  2.6                                      52/48        23.1   159     21.1 145  8.7                                      51/49        23.1   159     20.5 141  11.3                                     HFC-338mf/c234fEαβ                                                  60.2/39.8    23.1   159     23.1 159  0.0                                      80/20        22.4   154     21.9 151  2.2                                      99/1         19.1   132     19.0 131  0.5                                      40/60        22.6   156     22.1 152  2.2                                      22/78        21.4   148     19.3 133  9.8                                      21/79        21.3   147     19.1 132  10.3                                     HFC-338mf/c234fEβγ                                                  70.1/29.9    21.6   149     21.6 149  0.0                                      85/15        21.1   145     20.8 143  1.4                                      99/1         19.1   132     19.0 131  0.5                                      40/60        20.7   143     19.4 134  6.3                                      35/65        20.4   141     18.4 127  9.8                                      34/66        20.3   140     18.1 125  10.8                                     HFC-338ppc/MTBE                                                                84.4/15.6     8.9    61      8.9  61  0.0                                      94/6          8.8    60      8.0  55  9.2                                      95/5          8.7    60      7.4  51  14.8                                     62/38         8.5    59      7.7  53  9.8                                      61/39         8.5    59      7.6  52  10.7                                     HFC-338pcc/152E                                                                43.1/56.9    12.2    84     12.2  84  0.0                                      20/80        12.0    83     11.7  81  2.5                                      1/99         11.2    77     11.0  76  1.8                                      60/40        12.1    83     11.9  82  1.7                                      79/21        11.2    77     10.1  70  9.8                                      80/20        11.2    77     10.0  69  10.7                                     HFC-338pcc/4211meEγδ                                               32.0/68.0     8.8    60      8.8  60  0.0                                      15/85         8.6    59      8.6  59  0.5                                      1/99          8.1    56      8.1  56  0.1                                      60/40         8.5    59      8.3  57  1.9                                      80/20         7.9    55      7.6  52  4.3                                      90/10         7.5    52      7.2  50  4.0                                      99/1          7.0    48      6.9  48  0.6                                      ______________________________________                                    

The results of this Example show that these compositions are azeotropic or azeotrope-like because when 50 wt. % of an original composition is removed, the vapor pressure of the remaining composition is within about 10% of the vapor pressure of the original composition, at a temperature of 25° C.

EXAMPLE 3 Impact of Vapor Leakage at 50° C.

A leak test is performed on compositions of HFC-338pcc and MTBE, at the temperature of 50° C. The results are summarized below.

    ______________________________________                                                     0 wt %         50 wt %                                             Refrigerant evaporated     evaporated 0% change in                             Composition psia   kPa     psia kPa   vapor pressure                           ______________________________________                                         HFC-338pcc/MTBE                                                                85.8/14.2   22.4   154     22.4 154   0.0                                      95/5        22.0   152     20.0 138   9.1                                      96/4        21.8   150     19.0 131   12.8                                     65/35       21.6   149     19.6 135   9.3                                      64/36       21.5   148     19.3 133   10.2                                     ______________________________________                                    

These results show that compositions of HFC-338pcc and MTBE are azeotropic or azeotrope-like at different temperatures, but that the weight percents of the components vary as the temperature is changed.

EXAMPLE 4 Refrigerant Performance

The following table shows the performance of various refrigerants in an ideal vapor compression cycle. The data are based on the following conditions.

    ______________________________________                                         Evaporator temperature                                                                              40.0° F.                                                                         (4.4° C.)                                 Condenser temperature                                                                               130.0° F.                                                                        (54.4° C.)                                Liquid subcooled     5° F.                                                                            (2.8° C.)                                 Return Gas           60° F.                                                                           (15.6° C.)                                Compressor efficiency is 70%.                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The refrigeration capacity is based on a compressor with a fixed displacement of 3.5 cubic feet per minute and 70% volumetric efficiency. Capacity is intended to mean the change in enthalpy of the refrigerant in the evaporator per pound of refrigerant circulated, i.e. the heat removed by the refrigerant in the evaporator per time. Coefficient of performance (COP) is intended to mean the ratio of the capacity to compressor work. It is a measure of refrigerant energy efficiency.

    ______________________________________                                                Evap.     Cond.     Comp. Dis.   Capacity                               Refrig.                                                                               Press.    Press.    Temp.        BTU/min                                Comp.  Psia   kPa    Psia kPa  °F.                                                                          °C.                                                                          COP  kw                               ______________________________________                                         HFC-338q/152E                                                                  1/99   4.6    32     30.4 210  209.7                                                                               98.7 3.33 29.3 0.5                         99/1   6.8    47     39.6 273  136.4                                                                               58.0 2.77 31.2 0.5                         HFC-338q/c234fEαβ                                                   1/99   7.6    52     41.7 288  158.7                                                                               70.4 3.06 38.4 0.7                         99/1   6.6    46     38.9 268  136.0                                                                               57.8 2.75 30.3 0.5                         HFC-338q/c234fEβγ                                                   1/99   5.9    41     33.8 233  161.0                                                                               71.7 3.10 31.0 0.5                         99/1   6.6    46     38.8 268  136.0                                                                               57.8 2.75 30.2 0.5                         HFC-338q/236caE                                                                1/99   5.5    38     35.7 246  156.6                                                                               69.2 2.99 29.5 0.5                         99/1   6.6    46     38.6 266  135.9                                                                               57.7 2.74 30.0 0.5                         HFC-338q/236eaEβγ                                                   1/99   6.8    47     42.5 293  154.9                                                                               68.3 2.95 35.2 0.6                         99/1   6.6    46     38.6 266  135.9                                                                               57.7 2.74 30.0 0.5                         HFC-338q/c327eEαβ                                                   1/99   7.1    49     40.1 276  134.8                                                                               57.1 2.77 32.1 0.6                         99/1   6.5    45     38.5 265  135.7                                                                               57.6 2.74 29.9 0.5                         HFC-338q/c327eEαδ                                                  1/99   7.1    49     40.1 276  134.8                                                                               57.1 2.77 32.1 0.6                         99/1   6.5    45     38.5 265  135.7                                                                               57.6 2.74 29.9 0.5                         HFC-338mee/152E                                                                1/99   4.6    32     30.3 209  210.4                                                                               99.1 3.31 28.9 0.5                         99/1   6.7    46     40.1 276  139.7                                                                               59.8 2.80 31.6 0.6                         HFC-338mee/c234fEαβ                                                 1/99   7.6    52     41.7 288  158.8                                                                               70.4 3.06 38.3 0.7                         99/1   6.5    45     39.4 272  139.1                                                                               59.5 2.78 30.8 0.5                         HFC-338mee/c234fEβγ                                                 1/99   5.9    41     33.7 232  161.1                                                                               71.7 3.10 30.9 0.5                         99/1   6.5    45     39.3 271  139.2                                                                               59.6 2.78 30.7 0.5                         HFC-338mee/236caE                                                              1/99   5.5    38     35.7 246  156.6                                                                               69.2 2.99 29.5 0.5                         99/1   6.5    45     39.1 270  139.0                                                                               59.4 2.78 30.6 0.5                         HFC-338mee/236eaEβγ                                                 1/99   6.8    47     42.5 293  154.9                                                                               68.3 2.95 35.2 0.6                         99/1   6.5    45     39.2 270  139.1                                                                               59.5 2.78 30.6 0.5                         HFC-338mee/c327eEαβ                                                 1/99   7.1    49     40.1 276  134.9                                                                               57.2 2.77 32.1 0.6                         99/1   6.5    45     39.1 270  138.9                                                                               59.4 2.78 30.5 0.5                         HFC-338mee/c327eEαδ                                                1/99   7.1    49     40.1 276  134.9                                                                               57.2 2.77 32.1 0.6                         99/1   6.5    45     39.1 270  138.9                                                                               59.4 2.78 30.5 0.5                         HFC-338mf/152E                                                                 1/99   4.7    32     30.6 211  208.8                                                                               98.2 3.36 29.9 0.5                         99/1   8.9    61     49.3 340  135.1                                                                               57.3 2.69 38.2 0.7                         HFC-338mf/c234fEαβ                                                  1/99   7.6    52     41.9 289  158.7                                                                               70.4 3.07 38.5 0.7                         99/1   8.7    60     48.5 334  134.5                                                                               56.9 2.68 37.4 0.7                         HFC-338mf/c234fEβγ                                                  1/99   5.9    41     33.9 234  160.9                                                                               71.6 3.11 31.2 0.5                         99/1   8.7    60     48.5 334  134.6                                                                               57.0 2.67 37.3 0.7                         HFC-338pcc/MTBE                                                                1/99   2.0    14     14.2  98  148.7                                                                               64.8 3.06 11.7 0.2                         99/1   3.0    21     20.9 144  143.8                                                                               62.1 2.93 16.3 0.3                         HFC-338pcc/152E                                                                1/99   4.5    31     30.0 207  211.4                                                                               99.7 3.27 28.2 0.5                         99/1   3.1    21     21.8 150  144.2                                                                               62.3 2.98 17.4 0.3                         HFC-338pcc/4211meEγδ                                               1/99*  3.3    23     24.5 169  134.0                                                                               56.7 2.49 15.4 0.3                         99/1   3.0    21     20.9 144  143.6                                                                               62.0 2.92 16.3 0.3                         ______________________________________                                          *70° F. Return Gas                                                

EXAMPLE 5

This Example is directed to measurements of the liquid/vapor equilibrium curves for the mixtures in FIGS. 1-20.

Turning to FIG. 1, the upper curve represents the composition of the liquid, and the lower curve represents the composition of the vapor.

The data for the compositions of the liquid in FIG. 1 are obtained as follows. A stainless steel cylinder is evacuated, and a weighed amount of HFC-338q is added to the cylinder. The cylinder is cooled to reduce the vapor pressure of HFC-338q, and then a weighed amount of 152E is added to the cylinder. The cylinder is agitated to mix the HFC-338q and 152E, and then the cylinder is placed in a constant temperature bath until the temperature comes to equilibrium at 25° C., at which time the vapor pressure of the HFC-338q and 152E in the cylinder is measured. Additional samples of liquid are measured the same way, and the results are plotted in FIG. 1.

The curve which shows the composition of the vapor is calculated using an ideal gas equation of state.

Vapor/liquid equilibrium data are obtained in the same way for the mixtures shown in FIGS. 2-20.

The data in FIGS. 1-20 show that at 25° C., there are ranges of compositions that have vapor pressures higher than the vapor pressures of the pure components of the composition at that same temperature. As stated earlier, the higher than expected pressures of these compositions may result in an unexpected increase in the refrigeration capacity and efficiency for these compositions versus the pure components of the compositions.

The compositions of the present inventions are useful as blowing agents in the production of thermoset foams, which include polyurethane and phenolic foams, and thermoplastic foams, which include polystyrene or polyolefin foams.

A polyurethane foam may be made by combining a composition of the present invention, which functions as a blowing agent, together with an isocyanate, a polyol, and appropriate catalysts or surfactants to form a poylurethane or polyisocyanurate reaction formulation. Water may be added to the formulation reaction to modify the foam polymer as well as to generate carbon dioxide as an in-situ blowing agent.

A phenolic foam may be produced by combining a phenolic resin or resole, acid catalysts, a blowing agent of the present invention and appropriate surfactants to form a phenolic reaction formulation. The formulation may be chosen such that either an open cell or closed cell phenolic foam is produced.

Polystyrene or polyolefin foams may be made by extruding a molten mixture of a polymer, such as polystyrene, polyethylene or polypropylene), a nucleating agent and a blowing agent of the present invention through an extrusion die that yields the desired foam product profile.

The novel compositions of this invention, including the azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions, may be used as cleaning agents to clean, for example, electronic circuit boards. Electronic components are soldered to circuit boards by coating the entire circuit side of the board with flux and thereafter passing the flux-coated board over preheaters and through molten solder. The flux cleans the conductive metal parts and promotes solder fusion, but leave residues on the circuit boards that must be removed with a cleaning agent. This is conventionally done by suspending a circuit board to be cleaned in a boiling sump which contains the azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition, then suspending the circuit board in a rinse sump, which contains the same azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition, and finally, for one minute in the solvent vapor above the boiling sump.

As a further example, the azeotropic mixtures of this invention can be used in cleaning processes such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,949, or as a buffing abrasive detergent.

It is desirable that the cleaning agents be azeotropic or azeotrope-like so that they do not tend to fractionate upon boiling or evaporation. This behavior is desirable because if the cleaning agent were not azeotropic or azeotrope-like, the more volatile components of the cleaning agent would preferentially evaporate, and would result in a cleaning agent with a changed composition that may become flammable and that may have less-desirable solvency properties, such as lower rosin flux solvency and lower inertness toward the electrical components being cleaned. The azeotropic character is also desirable in vapor degreasing operations because the cleaning agent is generally redistilled and employed for final rinse cleaning.

The novel compositions of this invention are also useful as fire extinguishing agents.

ADDITIONAL COMPOUNDS

Other components, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons having a boiling point of -60° to +60° C., hydrofluorocarbonalkanes having a boiling point of -60° to +60° C., hydrofluoropropanes having a boiling point of between -60° to +60° C., hydrocarbon esters having a boiling point between -60° to +60° C., hydrochlorofluorocarbons having a boiling point between -60° to +60° C., hydrofluorocarbons having a boiling point of -60° to +60° C., hydrochlorocarbons having a boiling point between -60° to +60° C., chlorocarbons and perfluorinated compounds, can be added to the azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions described above.

Additives such as lubricants, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, stabilizers, dyes and other appropriate materials may be added to the novel compositions of the invention for a variety of purposes provides they do not have an adverse influence on the composition for its intended application. Preferred lubricants include esters having a molecular weight greater than 250. 

I claim:
 1. An azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of about 47-99 weight percent 1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and about 1-53 weight percent bis(fluoromethyl) ether, wherein at about 25° C., the vapor pressure of the composition is higher than the vapor pressure of the individual components and wherein when the temperature has been adjusted to about 25° C., the change in vapor pressure of the composition is less than about 10 percent, after 50 percent of the composition has been evaporated.
 2. An azeotropic or azetrope-like composition consisting essentially of about 47-99 weight percent 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and about 1-53 weight percent bis(fluoromethyl) ether, wherein at about 25° C., the vapor pressure of the composition is higher than the vapor pressure of the individual components and wherein when the temperature has been adjusted to about 25° C., the change in vapor pressure of the composition is less than about 10 percent, after 50 percent of the composition has been evaporated.
 3. An azeotropic or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of about 52-99 weight percent 1,1,1,2,2,4,4,4-octafluorobutane and about 1-48 weight percent bis(fluoromethyl) ether, wherein at about 25° C., the vapor pressure of the composition is higher than the vapor pressure of the individual components and wherein when the temperature has been adjusted to about 25° C., the change in vapor pressure of the composition is less than about 10 percent, after 50 percent of the composition has been evaporated.
 4. The composition of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said composition is a refrigerant.
 5. A process for producing refrigeration, comprising condensing a composition of claim 1 and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of the body to be cooled.
 6. A process for producing heat comprising condensing a composition of claim 1 in the vicinity of a body to be heated, and thereafter evaporating said composition.
 7. A process for producing refrigeration, comprising condensing a composition of claim 2 and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of the body to be cooled.
 8. A process for producing heat comprising condensing a composition of claim 2 in the vicinity of a body to be heated, and thereafter evaporating said composition.
 9. A process for producing refrigeration, comprising condensing a composition of claim 3 and thereafter evaporating said composition in the vicinity of the body to be cooled.
 10. A process for producing heat comprising condensing a composition of claim 3 in the vicinity of a body to be heated, and thereafter evaporating said composition. 